Not enjoying my career.

LegacyUser

Hi,

I'm a recent college graduate who graduated last September and I am currently in my first post-college job (in fact, my first ever job longer than 6 months). The problem is that I don't enjoy it...at all. I had a feeling this would be the case as I did not enjoy my college course much and only really entered the industry for the money (i'm on over 2 grand a month which is good for a 24 year old IMO).

I feel so lost as I thought everyone should know what they want to work at by the time they get to my age. I suppose I've never really known. Football was my passion as a youngster but a combination of laziness and shyness insured I got nowhere with that. I just can't help but ruminate about where I'm going with my life, what to do next. I thought my 20's were meant to be immensly enjoyable but to be honest I find them even more difficult than being a teen (which wasn't easy for me sometimes).

I just find myself confused and not knowing what to do with myself. It's great getting money and i'm grateful not being on the dole, but when you don't have a specific passion, something you'd love to work as, it's horrible. Shouldn't most people have this sorted at my age?

I was considering going to Australia a few months after my current contract ends. Only thing is I'd be hesitant on leaving my parents as i'm their only child and they'd miss me terrible. I just thought maybe a year in Australia would be a good thing to help me grow as a person and maybe experience different kinds of work?

If anyone has any advice I would be very grateful. Thanks.

Rubberchikken

while it's great to be earning that much money a month and in your twenties, if you're not passionate about the work you're doing, no amount of money will compensat.

if you'd really like to go to Austrailia when the contract is finished, then go. While your parents will miss you, chances are they would be delighted to see you spread your wings.
talk to them and see, but it would be a wonderful opportunity.

You said you loved football. Would a career in sport interest? It doesn't have to be actual playing.
Open your mind up to the possibilities and i bet you'll find the solution.

Good luck.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately a career in sport has no particular interest to me. It was either footballer or nothing. This is my main issue, I feel like I'm lacking in direction. The main reason I'm thinking of Australia is cause I love travelling. I'd be going it alone though as none of my mates are in a position to leave. I guess its just annoying to be in this state of aimlessness at my age. Aren't most people heading towards something by 24?

My early 20s has been wrought with this as well as anxiety

InReality

The best advice I could give is to try different jobs out. I'm 15 years down the road from you , and wish I had tried more jobs at your age.

This has some great insights and stories.
http://www.theschooloflife.com/shop/how-to-find-fulfilling-work/

castaway_lady

You are in the midst of a quarter life crisis. Very common. No you're not meant to have to have it all figured out at 24, where would be the fun in the rest of life at that rate? 20s are in my experience hit & miss, you're leaving the structured life of education for the first time and its scary but you have to view this as exciting possibilities. Fair play to you for finishing the degree, just dont see it as a dead end. Degrees open doors, thats it! Yours opened the door to your first job and decent money which gives you the means to fund the next step on your journey. Australia at the moment is the next itch you have to scratch...why commit yourself to a full year at this stage? That's a big decision to make, but 3/6 months wouldnt be so huge. Forget about looking at others and what they're at...most are equally as scared/confused/limping along finding their feet. Stop putting deadlines on yourself and get excited about your options. You'll gravitate towards something career wise when you have more life experience, in the meantime maybe take a "work to live" viewpoint.

Dutchess

I am a few years older than you and not passionate about my job either. It actually has nothing to do with what I went to college for. I just rolled into it because it was what I could get at the time courtesy of my second language.

And here is the thing (and there is a few articles on this, but they are far less in numbers than the articles promoting the opposite):
Not everyone will have a job they are passionate about. It's a little bit depressing but it's true. If everyone followed their passion consequences be damned, a lot of necessary positions would never get filled and society as we know it would collapse.

The other thing is, not everyone has this big passion that defines them. That one thing they can do day after day and be delighted. I in fact even think it could be dangerous making a passion your job, as it could ruin it for you once you're obliged to do it.

I think in recent years we have become a little bit brainwashed by articles that tell us that if we are not passionate about our work, there is something wrong with our lives. But I am willing to bet that "we" are in the fast majority, It's just that the headline: "Person is OK with job" will not sell as many headlines as "Person is absolutely in love with job".

I've read and believe that you can get far with looking at your strengths and analysing how they can be applied in your job. People will tend to at least get some satisfaction out of doing something they are good at, especially when they receive feedback that they're doing well.

Having said all that, don't be miserable. If your job makes you depressed and you start taking that home with you, change is overdue. I'm just saying to not assume that if you're not passionate, your life is wrong as it is actually quite normal.